Control for jet propelled marine craft



April 9, 1963 J. B. PARSONS 3,034,509

CONTROL FOR JET PROPELLED MARINE CRAFT Filed Aug. 22, 1960 2Sheets-Sheet 1 JOHN B. PARSONS TZMAZM ATTORNEY April 9, 1963 J. B.PARSONS 3,084,509

CONTROL FOR JET PROPELLED MARINE CRAFT Filed Aug. 22, 1960 2Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

JOHN B. PARSONS BY ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 9, 1963 3,084,509 CGNTROL FQRJET PRQPELLEH) MARINE CRAFT John B. Parsons, 1210 River Road, Manmee,Ohio Filed Aug. 22, 1960, Ser. No. 51,173 1 Ciaim. (Cl. 6tl35.55)

This invention relates to turbo jet propelled boats and other marinecraft but more particularly to the control and steering thereof.

An object is to produce a new and improved steering mechanism for turbojet propelled boats which enables steering to be effected during eitherthe forward or rearward motion of the marine craft.

Another object is to produce a novel shiftable device for efiectingforward and rearward drive for a unidirectional turbo jet marine engineas well as a neutral position at which no motion is imparted to thecraft although the engine is operating.

A further object is to provide a turbo jet marine engine with a simpleand efficient attachment through which the jet stream travels and whichcontrols the forward, rearward drive as well as a neutral position andwhich has mechanism for directing the jet stream in one direction oranother to effect steering during either the forward or reverse motionof the craft.

A still further object is to produce a new and improved tab forstabilizing a jet propelled craft and for maintaining the sameapproximately level while in motion and under power, and for militatingagainst the rolling motion of the craft when the latter is equipped withmultiple turbo jet engines.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appearand, for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, an embodimentof the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the power boat equipped with a turbo jetengine;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional elevation of the steeringmechanism connected to the turbo jet engine, a portion of the latter andthe hull of the boat being shown in fragment;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the mechanism shown in FIGURE 2, takensubstantially on the line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken substantiallyon the line 44 of FIGURE 2 and showing the steering mechanism adjustedto the position for driving the craft straight ahead;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 4 but showing the pistonvalve rocked to a position for causing the craft to turn in onedirection;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical sectional view somewhat similar to that of FIGURE2 with some of the parts removed but showing the piston valve shifteddownwardly to the position for driving the craft in a reverse direction;

FIGURE 7 is a transverse sectional view substantially on the line 77 ofFIGURE 6 and showing the piston valve rocked to a position for steeringthe craft in one direction during the reverse movement of the craft;

FIGURE 8 is a vertical sectional view similar of the steering mechanismbut showing the piston valve disposed in its neutral position; and

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary side elevation of the steering device equippedwith an adjustable trim tab for stabilizing the craft.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a boat 10 which inthis instance has the flat stern 12, the boat being equipped with aninboard engine (not shown) for driving a turbo jet motor, the taperedoutlet 11 thereof being shown extending through the hull. In thisinstance forming a part of the outlet tube 11 and disposed atsubstantially right angles thereto is an open ended vertical cylinder 13which is connected at its center to the tapered outlet. In this instancethe cylinder 13 is made up of two separable parts, a part 13a which isrigid with the tapered outlet pipe 11 and an outer section 13b which ishingedly connected to the section 13a by a hinge pin 14. A removable pin15 extending through a hole 15a in the cover 30 holds the other abuttingends of the sections together. This pin can be removed and thenreinserted in a hole 15a in the cover 30* for the cylinder as willhereinafter appear, thereby to crack the parts of the cylinder to enablesand and other foreign matter to be washed from the device when thatappears to be necessary.

The cylinder 13 has an inlet opening to enable the jet stream from thetapered inlet 16 to enter the cylinder. Diametrically opposed to theinlet 16 is an outlet opening 17 in the cylinder and from which thepropelling jet stream is discharged.

Having a relatively free sliding fit within the cylinder 13 is a hollowpiston-like valve 18 which is closed at its top by a wall 19. In the endwall 19 is an external annular groove 20 into which extends the endportion of a pin 21 in screw threaded engagement with an arm 22. The arm22 has a pivotal mounting 23 intermediate its ends in the outer end of abracket 24 which is fixed at its inner end to a rock shaft 25. The rockshaft 25 is rotatably mounted in a suitable bearing in the stern 12 ofthe boat, and has a suitable actuating rod 28 disposed on the inside ofthe boat. The operating rod 28 is mounted in any suitable manner forselectively shifting the valve 18 to the desired position in order todrive the craft forwardly or rearwardly or to dispose the valve inneutral position so that no propelling power is made available.

It will be observed that the inner end of the pivoted arm 22 is slidablymounted on a reduced end portion of the rock shaft 25 and a coil spring26 normally urges the arm so that the pin 21 is disposed in the annulargroove 20 in the piston valve. This arrangement enables the arm to berocked in a counter clockwise direction (FIG- URE 3), against the forceof the coil spring 26 sufficiently so that the piston valve 18 is freedfrom the pin 21 and can be slid from the cylinder 13 for cleaning orrepair.

Formed in the cylinder 13 is a'vertical slot 27 through which the pin 21extends. The slot 27 is somewhat arcuate to enable proper actuation ofthe pin and is of sufficient length to enable proper shifting of thepiston valve to effect the desired controls as will hereinafter appear.

The closed upper end wall 19 of the piston valve 18 is provided with acentral straight spline Way to receive a vertically disposed straightsplined rod 29 which extends through the cover plate 30 at the upper endof the cylinder 13, a pair of spaced discs 31 on the upper end of therod 29 holding the rod from axial movement. It will be understood thatthe cover 30 is retained in place by the pins 14 and 15 which hold thecylinder sections 13a and 13!) together. The cover 3%) only partiallycovers the cylinder to permit the passage of any water that may find itsway above the piston valve and also afford free movement to the valve.

Suitably fixed to the upper end of the splined rod 29 is an operatingarm 32 having suitable connections with the steering wheel S of the boatso that upon turning of the steering wheel the arm 32 may be turned inone direction or the other for effecting steering of the boat as willhereinafter appear. As shown a link 33 extends from the opposite end ofthe arm 32 but it will be understood that any suitable means foreffecting rocking movement of the arm 32 may be employed.

Extending through the piston valve 18 is a cylindrical passage 34 in theform of a venturi, the inlet end being considerably wider than theoutlet end and being disposed to receive the jet stream from the taperedoutlet 11 from the turbo jet motor. It will be observed that adequatespace is provided to enable the passage 34 to be rocked from one side tothe other and still have the full benefit of the jet stream. Thecylindrical passage 34 is formed with an upper wall 35, a bottom wall 36and side walls 37, the latter spaced from the sides of the piston valveparticularly as shown in FIGURES 4, 5, and 7, thereby to providepassages a and b on the outer sides of the cylindrical passage 34. Thevertically disposed passages a and b communicate with a chamber at thebottom of the piston valve and with a chamber d above the transversepassage 34-. The chamber d has a lateral opening 38 on'the inner side ofthe piston valve, which can be brought into registry with the cylinderopening 16 to receive the jet stream when the piston valve is lowered tothe position shown in FIG- URE 6.

The chamber 0 is closed at the bottom by an end wall 39 of the pistonvalve and has a rearwardly extending opening in which a relatively shortdownwardly inclined verturi tube 40 is secured which enables the jetstream from the chamber 0 to be discharged in a forward direction asindicated by the arrow in FIGURE 6 for imparting backup or reversemovement to the craft.

From the above description it will be understood that the piston valve18 is in the position shown in FIGURE 2 for driving the boat forwardly.In this instance the stream from the turbo jet engine passes through theventuri passage 34 to the outside through the opening 17 in the cylinder13. Both the outlet opening 17 and the inlet 16 in the cylinder aresufficiently wide to enable the valve 18 to be rocked by the splinedshaft 29, arm 32 and other connections in one direction or the otherthereby to effect steering of the boat in a forward direction. FIGUREshows the valve rocked in one direction for effecting steering of theboat in one direction and manifestly by rocking the valve 18 in theopposite direction the force of the jet stream will cause the boat toturn in the opposite direction.

By a slightly downward movement of the valve 18 through the operation ofthe arm 22, rock shaft 25 and associated parts to the position shown inFIGURE 8, the parts are in neutral position where neither forward norrearward propelling movement is imparted to the craft. In this positionthe outlet 17 and the cylinder is closed by a solid wall of the valve 18and the venturi tube 40 is also closed by an imperforate portion of thewall of the cylinder. In this case the jet stream can merely churnwithin the valve and cylinder without effecting any driving force in onedirection or the other.

The piston may be shifted downwardly to the position shown in FIGURE 6in which the venturi tube 41 is uncovered from the cylinder 13, enablingthe jet stream to be impelled forwardly toward the hull, thereby tocause a reverse movement of the craft. In this instance the jet streamfrom the turbo jet motor enters the chamber a. through the pistonopening 38, passes downwardly through the vertical passages a and [2into the chamber 0, and thence outwardly in a forward direction throughthe short venturi tube 4%. The reverse or backup motion of the boat canbe steered by turning the valve 18 in one direction or the other byrocking the splined shaft 29 through connections above described. Thiscan be accomplished readily and conveniently and either a sharp turn ora gradual turn can be effected depending upon the amount of turningmovement imparted to the valve.

FIGURE 9 somewhat diagrammatically illustrates a stabilizer for the boatto effect leveling of the boat fore and aft while running forwardly. Inthe form shown a plate or tab 41 is disposed above the outlet opening 17of the cylinder 13 so that the force of the jet stream will impinge uponit and elevate the stern of the boat to a degree dependent upon theamount by which the jet stream is intercepted. In this instance theplate 41 has an integral arm 43 at right angles thereto and an adjustingscrew 44- is provided for manually rocking the plate 41 to a desiredposition. Manifestly the rocking of the trim tab or plate 41 can beoperated by suitable mechanism disposed inside of the boat, such as bysuitable linkage or the like. Furthermore it will be understood thatanother tab or plate 41 may be disposed in a position below the opening17 which would tend to effect a reverse action, i.e. that of loweringthe stern of the boat to a predetermined degree.

In this connection it is contemplated that on boats provided with twinjet streams, pairs of trim tabs 41 therefor of the above description,one pair being disposed above the jet stream and the other pair belowthe jet stream, may be employed in connection with a gyro or othercontrol well known in the art for the stabilization of marine craft,thereby to control the roll about a fore and aft axis without addingappreciably to the drag as is presently experienced in the use ofcertain stabilizers, such as retractable fins which operate beneath thesurface of the water. Thus pairs of plates or tabs 41 may beautomatically rocked by suitable means responsive to the rolling actionof the boat and consequently causing the boat to maintain asubstantially level condition.

Numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and operationmay be effected without departing from the spirit of the inventionespecially as defined in the appended claim. Although mention hasheretofore been made of venturi-like passages, it is to be understoodthat other shaped passages are satisfactory, such as straight walls,concave, convex and other shapes.

What I claim is:

In combination with a jet propelled watercraft having a jet nozzleextending through the transom thereof, a thrust reversing and steeringcontrol device comprising:

(a) a cylindrical chamber mounted upon the boat rearwardly of thetransom and nozzle in the path of the jet stream, with its longitudinalaxis disposed substantially vertically,

(b) said cylindrical chamber having opposed inlet and discharge openingson the annular wall of said chamber, the inlet opening being alignedwith the jet nozzle exit;

(0) a cylindrical piston mounted in said chamber for reciprocating androtatable sliding movement with respect to said chamber,

(d) said piston having vertically stacked, upper, forward inletopenings, each comprising a greater are than said chamber inlet opening;an intermediate discharge opening opposing the lower one of said inletopenings; and a lower, forward, discharge opening;

(e) the chamber and piston being dimensioned so that the lower pistoninlet opening is aligned with the nozzle exit opening and the pistonintermediate discharge opening is aligned with the chamber dischargeopening, the other piston openings being blocked by the chamber wall, inan upper position of the piston; and so that the upper piston inletopening is aligned with the nozzle exit opening and the lower pistondischarge opening is exposed, the other piston openings being blocked bythe chamber wall, in a lower position of said piston;

5 6 (f) first actuating means for reciprocating the piston 1,482,196Ketring et a1 Jan. 29, 1924 between said upper and lower positions; and1,999,255 Rank Apr. 30, 1935 (g) second actuating means for rotatingsaid piston 2,024,274 Campini Dec. 17, 1935 while it is in either ofsaid upper or lower positions. 2,534,817 Hedden Dec. 19, 1950 52,959,183 Jordan Nov. 8, 1960 References Cited in the file of thispatent 3,002,344 Skopyk Oct. 3, 1961 UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGNPATENTS 3,606 V011 Schmidt May 30, 1844 I 118,815 New Zealand May 19,1958

